Five things we learned from the Olyroos win against Syria

Australia booked their ticket to the final four of the AFC U-23 Championship in Thailand thanks to Al Hassan Toure's extra-time goal, but there were plenty of lessons to be learned from the Olyroos' hard fought win against Syria.

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What Al Hassan Toure did in the FFA Cup, he could do in Asia.

In a game as tight as this was always likely to be, it needed a moment of inspiration and quality if a penalty shootout was to be avoided.

The Adelaide United forward has plenty of that. He came close to breaking the deadlock with 15 minutes of normal time remaining but showed his class with the strike that sent Australia into the last four.

The pass from Aidan O’Neill was a thing of beauty and the finish was as cool and crisp as you will see anywhere in Thailand this month.

If Australia are to win this thing then there will need to be a hero that emerges.

Toure starred in the FFA Cup for Adelaide, helping the Reds win the trophy last October and could do the same in Thailand.

Do Australia have an extra gear?

Is there another level for Australia to move to? It is hard to say.

It was a battling performance from Graham Arnold’s men but there was still not much in the way of fluency going forward.

There was plenty of possession but a lack of clear chances created.

With Syria ensuring that space at the back was as tight as the roads outside that old Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, it was always going to be tough.

If Australia are to win this trophy there are potential match-ups with the two best teams so far --South Korea and Saudi Arabia and that extra gear will need to be found.

Defensive reasons to be cheerful

Australia topped Group A but still conceded in all three games against Iraq, Thailand and Bahrain.

A first clean sheet was very welcome and perhaps a sign of increasing cohesion as the tournament progresses.

There were a few wobbly moments at the back when the Syrians countered and ran at the defence but overall, the backline held firm, dealing with the long balls comfortably.

Dylan Ryan is only 19 but is growing from game to game in the middle of the defence and his partnership with Tass Mourdoukoutas looks promising. It could help lead Australia to the title.

A mature Australia can battle if need be

The story of Syrian football in the previous decade is a moving one and it is testament to the determination and bravery of players and the coaching staff that this war-torn country is as competitive as it is.

That said, they are often a frustrating team to play against. During qualification for the 2018 World Cup, South Korean captain Ki Sung-yeung said they were an embarrassment to Asian football for their time-wasting and niggling.

The Koreans lost their heads at times but the Olyroos kept theirs, and should have had more help from the referee who failed to make it clear that time wasted would be added on.

This difference of styles is what international football is all about and it was a test that was passed.

There is a chance to start 2020 with a bang

Rightly or wrongly, whether this tournament is judged as a success is going to rest on whether qualification for the Olympics is achieved.

It is not going to be about performances too much but about finishing in the top three and getting that ticket to Tokyo after a 12-year absence, anything else is a bonus.

As it stands, the Olyroos are going to get two bites at those five rings.

Lose to South Korea or Jordan in the semifinal and there will still be a play-off for that all-important third place.

Win the next game and the youngsters can focus on winning a major continental tournament with tickets to Japan already sorted.

It would set the scene for a great year.